Zach Taylor-National AmeriCorps Member of the Year 5/21/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contact: |
Dianemarie Collins |
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Zach Taylor-National AmeriCorps Member of the Year
Leadership that Counts for Nevada
Reno, NV- At first glance of his resume, Zachary Taylor seems an unlikely candidate for Great Basin 's Nevada Conservation Corps ( NCC ). Yet, he not only fits, he has excelled to the degree that his boss depends on him to lead and train other AmeriCorps members. That leadership has earned him the 2008 National Service Award for AmeriCorps Member of the Year. Zachary Taylor holds a Bachelor's degree in History and English, but according to Matt Johnson, director of Nevada Conservation Corps, he is tops at his NCC job. "From day one Zach clearly stepped up showing leadership," Johnson shared with enthusiasm. "Within four months, we had Zach leading NCC crews and teaching others the skills needed for the job. This normally takes someone at least a year." Nominating Taylor for the national award was easy decision Johnson said. "Zach is very talented at being a sawyer (working with a chainsaw)) and trail blazing. But, most importantly he's safe. It is unusual for someone to excel at both the trails and the saws," Johnson added. "Plus Zach is a good teacher as he's trained several others on the use of the chainsaw, not an easy task." "The greatest aspect of his skills is that we can trust Zach on any project he is assigned to complete," Johnson said. "When we send him out to build or clean up a trail, it's always done right!" According to his application, Taylor who is from Illinois learned about the AmeriCorps program with Nevada Conservation Corps through his sister, an AmeriCorps alumni. "My sister served last year and knew about my desire to find a job working outdoors and so she suggested that I apply," Taylor stated. "I want a career working outdoors." "I worked on a volunteer project prior to coming to NCC and becoming an AmeriCorps Nevada member," Taylor added. "That experience taught me the importance of the national trail systems and how they affect the general public. I wanted to be a part of preserving and expanding them." Zachary Taylor has certainly been good for Nevada as he is an outstanding example of someone who is both willing and talented with a commitment for community service. About Nevada Volunteers: Nevada Volunteers creates countless opportunities to inspire, teach, train and recognize individuals, organizations, and businesses across Nevada to develop a legacy of service and citizenship. The Nevada Volunteers is the Governor's Commission that administers AmeriCorps programs statewide and hosts the annual Governor's Points of Light award. Since 1998, over 1,100 AmeriCorps members have served throughout Nevada recruiting more than 14,000 volunteers who donated over 97,000 hours of service to local communities. In September 2007, First Lady Dawn Gibbons was named the Honorary Chair of Nevada Volunteers and considers the commission one of her top priorities. The Website www.NevadaVolunteers.org eventually will become a single source for Nevadans to go statewide for volunteering opportunities. Those interested in determining how they can participate should subscribe for e-mail updates at the Nevada Volunteers website, www.NevadaVolunteers.org About The Great Basin Institute:Now in its tenth year, the Great Basin Institute (GBI) is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West. GBI advances ecological literacy and habitat restoration through educational outreach and direct service programs like the Nevada Conservation Corps. For further info rmation, contact Jerry Keir, Director, Great Basin Institute, at 775-784-1192 or by email at keir@unr.edu. GBI's website can be found at www.greatbasininstitute.org.
About Nevada Conservation Corps: Our statewide program transcends racial, ethnic and economic barriers by creating a cadre of corps members comprised of diverse backgrounds, drawing a broad-based national recruitment process. By uniting environmental resources from federal, state and county agencies, the NCC provides students and young professionals opportunities to make meaningful contributions toward protecting and conserving Nevada 's natural heritage, while also gaining valuable work experience in natural resource management.
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Photos available for this release:
Zach Taylor, left, AmeriCorps Member of the Year with Mary Simmons, Nevada Volunteers Commissioner
To view photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 149431
